South Gloucstershire, England—May 4
At the lunch break on Day 1 of the dressage at the Badminton, Frenchman Astier Nicolas is leading the field on a score of 41.5, with the legendary Mark Todd just behind him on Leonidas II (42.9).
U.S. rider Hannah Sue Burnett has slotted into the fourth spot with Harbour Pilot (44.9), while the other U.S. rider in the Thursday morning section—Lauren Kieffer on Landmark’s Monte Carlo—rode into 13th (50.6).
Burnett said she was “really happy” with her test on “William.”
Hannah Sue Burnett on Harbour Pilot. Photo by Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors
“I’ve never been here and I thought it might be more like Burghley, with more stands and a little bit closer atmosphere,” she said. “I’m happy with the way he relaxed and I could ride him. There were a couple of little mistakes I wish I could improve on, but we can’t be too hard on him—it’s his first time here.”
Harbour Pilot was Burnett’s ride at the 2011 Pan American Games (Mexico) where they helped the U.S. team to gold and took individual silver. They were 15th at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky CCI**** and jumped clean with time penalties around the cross-country at the 2014 Burghley CCI**** (England), but withdrew before the show jumping due to an injury. Harbour Pilot returned to action in the spring of 2016 and took 15th at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, 11th at the Aachen CICO*** (Germany) and fifth at the Blenheim CCI*** (England).
“It’s really exciting to be here—I’ve always wanted to come to Badminton, and on such a special horse as a home-bred of Jacqueline Mars’,” Burnett said. “I’ve ridden him for eight-plus years, so it is really, really special. He was great in there—he was a bit tense in the warm-up, and once he got in there with more atmosphere he relaxed, which is always nice, and I could push on him a bit. It was a pity about that mistake on the center line at the end [where William broke into the canter again after the transition to trot], but overall I was really pleased with him. I haven’t walked the course yet—I’m really superstitious and never walk on Wednesdays, so I will do it after this.”
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Kieffer was similarly pleased with Landmark’s Monte Carlo’s dressage test, which was the very first of the day. “I was thrilled with him,” she said. “He’s not the most extravagant mover but he was good in the atmosphere and happy on the grass. That one bobble in the canter half-pass was really me just trying to push him bigger and he’s like, ‘I can’t go that big, Mum.’ But I thought he was really good and steady and accurate.
“Badminton has so much history and atmosphere and since I was a little kid I watched the VHS tapes of Badminton, so it’s quite something to be in the ring,” Kieffer said.
Lauren Kieffer on Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors
When asked about the cross-country, Keiffer said: “It’s bloody big! But it’s Badminton and that’s what we expected.
“I think the course will suit him—it’s big and bold but he’s good about that; size doesn’t bother him. He’s more a horse who doesn’t love bright colors, so this big, old-fashioned course should suit him. We’ll see whether I’m right!”
The Thursday afternoon dressage brings the test of the seemingly unbeatable Michael Jung, who just won his third consecutive Rolex Kentucky CCI**** on fischerRocana FST. At Badminton, he’s riding the veteran La Biosthetique Sam.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- The free Badminton live stream.
- All the dressage ride times.
- Live dressage results.
- A look at the cross-country course.
